Healing the Boss's Heart (8 page)

“Thanks.” Punching in her elder brother’s number, she was surprised to hear a connection being made. Her eyes widened and she smiled. “Hey! It’s ringing.”

“Great. You should sleep better after you talk to him.”

“Jesse? It’s me, Maya.” She knew her voice had an edge to it but she couldn’t help being excited and
apprehensive when someone answered. “Is that you? Are you okay?”

She heard a deep sigh before he replied. “I’m fine, sis. How about you and Layla?”

“We’re both good. What about the ranch?”

“We had some damage to the house, primarily the kitchen, but the barns are still standing and we didn’t lose any calves,” Jesse said. “All in all, it could have been much worse.”

“Did you wait it out in the root cellar?”

“No. I didn’t have to. I was in Manhattan with the triplets when the twister hit here.”

“What about Marie? Was she with you?” The silence on the other end of the line made her wonder if they’d lost their connection.

Finally, her brother said, “Marie’s left me, Maya. I found her goodbye note with the rings I’d given her when I came in from doing my chores this morning.”

“What? That can’t be.”

Jesse snorted. “Yeah. That’s what I kept telling myself. But she did me one favor. I was so upset I had to get out of here, so I left to go visit the babies. Doing that may have saved my life. I’d like to think it did.”

Maya gripped the little phone more tightly and cradled it with her other hand. “Oh, Jesse. I’m so sorry. I don’t know what she could have been thinking. Maybe it’s because her hormones are all upset after the birth and she’ll eventually reconsider and come home.”

“I hope so. At least I think I do. I’m so confused right now I hardly know what to feel. All I can picture is those three tiny babies without a mother. It’s not fair.”

“No, it isn’t. Poor Marie was always like a fish out of water living here, though,” Maya reminded him. “I know she tried to fit in but she never really did.”

“I don’t know what else I could have done. I gave her everything she asked for, even the diamond engagement ring that’s been in our family for ages. She left that behind with her wedding band, so it couldn’t have meant much to her after all. Maybe I spoiled her but that was the way she grew up and I thought…”

Maya heard his voice break. Her heart did the same. Dear, sweet Jesse. He’d waited until he was older, more mature, to choose a wife. It hadn’t helped. Marie had apparently been charmed by his dashing cowboy image without realizing that a rancher worked hard from dawn to dusk every day. Maya had tried to befriend her sister-in-law, to draw her into her circle of friends in High Plains and in church. To her dismay, Marie had usually found an excuse to beg off rather than join her in whatever outing or get-together she’d planned.

“You and the little ones are going to be fine,” Maya assured him. “And I’ll help all I can after they come home. How are they doing? Have the
doctors given you any more idea of when they’ll be out of the neonatal ICU?”

Jesse cleared his throat. “No. Not really. They did say they may move them to a closer hospital later, so I don’t have so far to drive. I’m not sure.”

“Good thing you’re on the other side of the river,” Maya said. “The main bridge is closed. I’d have to go way around if I wanted to come up there. I will, though, if you need me.”

“Not now. You stay there. I’ve been trying to phone you but the lines are down. How’s your place?”

“A bit worse off than yours, it sounds like. But I’ll be fine, big brother. My new boss has promised to pitch in and help me clean up.”

“Garrison?” he huffed. “Are you saying that a Garrison offered to do anything, especially for a Logan, without making a big profit? I’ll believe it when I see it.”

“Well, he did,” she insisted, casting a quick smile at her host to reinforce her praise. “As a matter of fact, I’m using his phone right now. Like you said, the main lines are down and I lost my cell, so hang on to this number in case you need to reach me. Did it come through on your caller ID?”

“Yeah. Got it.”

“Okay. Take care. I’ll be praying for everything.” As she bid him goodbye and broke the connection, she sobered and handed the phone back to her boss. “Poor Jesse. I can’t believe it.”

“What happened? Was the damage worse than we’d heard?”

“That hardly matters in view of everything else. His wife left him this morning. They have newborn triplets and she just up and deserted them all.”

“Ah, so that’s why you didn’t tell him that half your house is lying in a pile in your yard.”

“That’s why. He has enough to worry about without adding my problems to it all.”

She took another sip of juice while she mulled over what she’d just learned. “I suppose having premature triplets was too much for Marie to cope with all at once.”

“It sure would be if they were mine.” He leaned a hip against the countertop and folded his arms across his chest.

“It’s not as if they’d planned to have three at once. It just happened.”

“Still, that is a lot to accept.”

It struck Maya as inappropriate to be discussing such an intimate family matter with her employer so she changed the subject. “In the morning I’d like to go back to my place and salvage what I can from my kitchen and pantry. We can’t cook here yet but it shouldn’t be long. I have an electric fry pan and a crockpot that will come in handy, assuming they didn’t get picked up and flung into the next county.”

“We’ll take my SUV if we can’t borrow a truck,”
he said. “I suspect the insurance adjuster will say your car is totaled.”

Her eyes widened. “And yours isn’t? They were parked practically next to each other.”

“I know. Yours had a close encounter with a snapped telephone pole. It missed mine. All I need is a new windshield—and a few less dents in the hood.”

“Terrific. What else?”

“Nothing that I can think of at the moment. My brain is as tired as the rest of me.”

“And we’re keeping you up. I’m sorry.” She lifted Layla down from the stool and took her hand. “Thank you for your hospitality, Mr. Garrison.”

“You’d better drop the formalities and start calling me
Greg,
the way you did when you got so excited and forgot yourself out at the Waters cottages.” He gave her a lopsided grin. “After all, we are living under the same roof and even sharing a refrigerator.”

Maya rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Don’t remind me, okay? I have enough real problems to worry about right now without adding rumor and gossip to the list.”

He laughed. “Okay. I’ve got a flashlight right here. You take it so you can see your way home. I won’t need it tonight.”

Their hands brushed briefly as she accepted the light. His touch was barely there, yet she shivered
in response to the contact. Hoping he hadn’t noticed, she backed away with a simple “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome. Good night, Maya.”

Pausing at the door she turned, smiled and said, “Good night…Greg.”

The scariest aspect of that small utterance was that it had felt good, felt right. In the space of a single day, she and Gregory Garrison had apparently progressed from the formal relationship of boss and employee to that of friends. How unbelievable was
that?

T
he following morning passed in a blur. Maya had used Gregory’s—Greg’s—phone to try to reach her other brother, Clay, after she’d dug her personal phone book out of the mess in her living room and had found his work number. Disappointingly, she’d been forced to leave a message for him. His boss had informed her that Clay was out in the Canadian wilderness, guiding a hunting party, and was therefore incommunicado.

Greg had made four trips with Maya to her house to pick up furniture and anything else she wanted to move. They were in his pockmarked SUV, stopping in front of the Garrison building with their final load, when his cell phone rang.

He answered, spoke briefly, then turned off the motor as he held out the phone. “It’s your brother.”

“Clay? Already? They told me he wouldn’t get my message for weeks.”

“No. This is Jesse. He says it’s urgent.” Lowering his voice and covering the mouthpiece Greg added, “He sounds terrible.”

Heart in her throat, Maya took the instrument. “Jesse? What’s wrong?”

She waited while he struggled to speak. Finally, he blurted it out. “Marie’s dead.”

Maya was glad she was seated because she suddenly couldn’t draw a breath. All her strength vanished. Her hands began to tremble. “What happened?”

“An accident. Chief Ridgeway just came by to tell me. Marie was driving and…and…a tree…”

“Take your time, Jesse.”

She heard him cough to try to cover his raw emotions before he continued. “A tree was knocked over by the storm. As near as they can tell, Marie had pulled over to wait out the tornado and she was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

“They’re sure it was her?”

“Positive. Somebody has to make an official identification, for the record. They can’t tell by her wedding and engagement rings because she left them behind on the kitchen table, like I said, and the tornado blew everything away, but the chief says there’s no doubt in his mind. It’s her, all right.”

“Oh, Jesse. I don’t know what to say.”

“Neither do I. And it gets worse. I still have to notify Marie’s parents. I’m really dreading it.”

“I can understand that. They never were very friendly to any of us.” She paused, then mustered her courage and asked, “Do you want me to do it for you?”

“No. It’s my job. Just say an extra prayer for me, okay? I’ve tried to reach them at home and all I get is an answering machine. I refuse to leave them a horrible message like that.”

“Of course not. And if there’s anything I can do, anything at all, just give a holler.”

“Do you have your own cell phone yet? I tried your house again and the call didn’t go through this time, either.”

“Just keep using this number for a while. I’ll get back to you when I locate my cell or buy a new one.”

“Okay. Thanks for listening. I feel better just having talked to you, Maya. You always were the level-headed one.”

“And you were the good one,” she countered. “Mama always said so.” She sighed slowly, deeply. “So, what’s next?”

“I’m heading for the hospital. I just want to be with the babies. Right now, I hardly know if I’m coming or going.”

“I wish I were there to give you a big hug.”

“I can feel it over the phone,” her brother said.
“Tell—tell Reverend Michael to be ready to conduct a funeral soon.”

Maya heard his breath catch in a muffled sob before he managed to bid her goodbye. She closed the phone and handed it back to Greg. Although he didn’t ask, his inquisitive look prompted an explanation.

“Jesse’s wife, Marie? The one who left him? She was killed by the tornado.”

Greg’s jaw gaped. He gently covered Maya’s hand with his own. “I’m so sorry. I heard you ask if there was anything you could do but I thought you were just talking about the cleanup. Is there anything he needs? Any help we can give him?”

“He says not. I suppose there will be once he starts coming to grips with it and has to arrange her funeral. He wants me to alert Michael.”

“I’ll do that for you, if you want,” Greg said.

“Thanks. I appreciate the offer but Jesse asked me to do it. Besides, Layla’s in day care and I suddenly want to see her again. To give her a big hug and thank God she’s okay.” Maya managed a wan smile. “I suppose you think that’s silly.”

Greg started the car. “Not at all. I would have been surprised if you hadn’t wanted to. There are some heartbreaking situations that only being with loved ones can fix.”

As he drove, Maya mulled over his comment and wondered who he yearned to be with during try
ing times. Judging by what she’d observed in the past few days, Gregory Garrison felt and acted as if he were totally alone in the world.

That conclusion made her almost as sad as hearing about her brother’s loss.

Michael was in the church basement with his niece, Avery, and a group of other young people, sorting donated clothing and bedding, when Maya and Greg arrived.

“Sorry to bother you,” Greg said, leaning in the doorway and addressing his comments to his cousin. “Maya just got some bad news and she needs to speak with you.” He eyed the teenagers who were obviously listening to every word with interest. “Privately.”

“Of course.” Michael excused himself and joined Maya and Greg in the hallway. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

“It’s Jesse’s wife,” Maya said haltingly, softly. “She was killed in the storm.”

“Oh, no.”

“I thought maybe Chief Ridgeway had told you already.”

“No,” the pastor said, “I haven’t seen Colt since last night when I visited him in the hospital. I didn’t even know he’d been released.”

“He was out at Jesse’s ranch this morning, bringing him the bad news. Jesse was terribly upset. I’m so worried about him.”

“That’s not at all surprising.” Michael glanced back at the teams of youth working to sort disaster relief supplies. “I’ll drive up there to counsel him as soon as I can get free.”

“Don’t worry about it right now,” Maya said. “Jesse’s going to the hospital in Manhattan to see his daughters. He wouldn’t be home if you did go to the ranch. He just wanted me to ask you to preach at Marie’s funeral.”

“Tomorrow’s Sunday. Perhaps I’ll see him in the morning, as usual. If not, I can make arrangements to drive out his way in a day or so and we can discuss what kind of service he would like.”

“I was really hoping he would come to High Plains for church, even if he has to go way around to get here,” Maya said. “I think it would do him good to be with his church family at a time like this.”

“So do I,” the pastor replied. “But we should let Jesse make that choice. Not everyone grieves in the same way. He may not be ready to accept too many condolences, no matter how sincere they are.”

Greg was watching Maya’s expression and was relatively certain when she made the decision to refrain from elaborating on her brother’s marital problems.

Her lips pressed into a thin line and she scowled. “There’s a bit more to it than what I’ve told you, Reverend Michael. You’ll need to speak to Jesse in person.”

Michael took her hand. “All right. I’ll get in touch with him as soon as possible.”

Greg could see unshed tears in Maya’s pretty brown eyes. She stepped back. “If you’ll excuse me, I really need to go see my daughter right now.”

Greg watched her hurry down the hallway, her shoulders square, her spine stiff. “It must be really tough to try to raise a kid all by yourself,” he said.

“Yes. But she’s doing a fine job.”

“I agree. You heard about her house?”

“Not in detail.” Leaning against the wall, the pastor folded his arms across his chest and looked questioningly at Greg. “How bad is it?”

“Pretty bad. We managed to salvage the bedroom furniture and a few little things from the kitchen but half the house is a total wreck.”

“
We?
As in, you and Maya?”

“Yes,” Greg answered with a half smile. “We. I had an extra apartment available in my building and we moved her and Layla into it this morning. They were lucky their beds and dressers were usable because I don’t know how long it will be before her place is livable again.” His cousin looked far too pleased to suit him so he added,
“What?”

“Nothing, nothing. I’m just surprised, that’s all.”

“Not half as surprised as I was,” Greg said. “One minute I was working in my office and everything was normal, and the next I was up to my neck in rain
and rubble and practically adopting my secretary and her little girl.”

“Life can be interesting, can’t it?”

Greg arched an eyebrow as he studied Michael’s expression. “Don’t look at me like that. I’m just doing my civic duty.”

“Right. Which reminds me, thanks for the generator. I don’t know what we’d have done without it.”

“You’re welcome. Do you have enough gas to keep it running till the power comes back on?”

“Uh-huh. Emergency services brought us some, and one of the insurance companies has a tanker standing by if we need more. They also brought in portable bathrooms and cases of drinking water.”

“With what ulterior motive?”

Michael chuckled and clapped Greg on the back. “Cynic. I could ask the same about you and Ms. Logan.”

“Whoa. Back off, Mike. It’s not like that. She needed a place to stay and I had an extra, empty suite down the hall. That’s all there is to it.”

“Right. It’s strictly business. You don’t even like her. Is that what you’re saying?”

Greg chose to stop and think before answering too quickly. He did like Maya. And her daughter. Beyond that, there was his admiration for the woman’s spunk and intelligence, not to mention the fact that when she wasn’t wearing suits and high heels, she looked far more approachable.

“Let’s just say we’ve become friends,” Greg finally said. “The storm has probably brought out the best in her.”

“And in you, cousin,” Michael said with a broad grin. “I didn’t think I’d ever see you pitching in the way you have or offering to give away stock from your stores. I’m impressed.”

“That wasn’t why I did it.”

“I know.” Michael thumped him on the back again as he started back into the room where his teenage crew was still working. “And that impressed me even more. You’re a real blessing, Greg. To all of us.”

Left alone in the hallway, Greg just stood there, deep in thought. Him? A blessing? Hardly. He’d worked all his life to earn his father’s approval and had not succeeded. How anyone could see him as a blessing in any respect was beyond him. He was just a regular guy, doing what he could in a bad situation. Anyone would have done the same.

As he started down the hall toward the day care to rejoin Maya, he began to wonder if that was true. Was he unique? He doubted it. Maya Logan, however, was definitely one of a kind and he was almost glad they’d gone through the tornado together.

He’d had to think twice about hiring her in the first place, in view of their families’ history of conflict. If subsequent events had not occurred the
way they had, he might never have gotten to know her as a person. A mother. A neighbor.

He began to smile as he added one more definition.
Friend.

Maya knew the instant Greg opened the door to the day care room. She sensed his presence even before their eyes met.

Tommy jumped up and greeted him eagerly. “Did you find my dog? Did you find Charlie?”

“No. Sorry.” He ruffled the boy’s hair. “But don’t give up hope, okay. I just talked to the lady outside collecting lost pets. I reminded her what Charlie looks like and that he’s still lost, in case somebody brings him to her.”

“Yeah, sure.” The child turned away, sulking.

Maya motioned to Greg and called, “Tommy was helping us make a new sign for the door. Could you come over here and spell the words for him?”

“Sure.” Greg shepherded the disappointed child in the right direction. Sizing up the diminutive chairs and deciding they might not support him, he chose to get down on his knees at the table. “Okay, Tommy. What do you need?”

“Nothin’. I can do it myself.”

“I’m sure you can. But Ms. Logan asked me to help, and I always listen to her.”

She rolled her eyes theatrically and muffled a chuckle. Greg might not realize it, but he was a natural at handling children now that he’d loosened up a bit. He could switch from being a hardheaded businessman to thinking on Tommy’s level in a heartbeat and make perfect sense to the six-year-old. That was more than a lot of adults could do.

Tommy didn’t look up but he did say, “Okay.”

As the two worked with their heads bent over the cardboard sign and shared markers to color in the letters, she was so touched by Greg’s empathy for the little boy she nearly wept. That man would make a great father someday. Someone patient and kind, like him, was exactly what Tommy needed.

Cleaning up the office enough to get by hadn’t been as hard as Maya had anticipated. They’d swept up the broken glass and had placed most of the wet papers in cardboard boxes to sort through them later. Then, she and Greg had moved the desks to one side to allow him to rip out the sodden carpet.